Friday, 27 April 2012

Wicklow Sinn Féin hold successful launch of of the No Campaign to the Austerity Treaty

Wicklow Sinn Féin successfully launched their campaign for a No votein the forthcoming EU Fiscal Compact Treaty. The launch was held inthe Royal Hotel Bray and Sinn Féin outlined the nature of the campaignthey intend on running over the next five weeks. The launch waschaired by Wicklow Town Sinn Féin councillor Gary O'Reilly andaddressed by Sinn Fein councillors Rossa Murray, John Snell and JohnBrady along with the Sinn Féin representative for West Wicklow GerryO'Neill.

Speaking at the launch Cllr Gary O'Reilly welcomed people and thankedthem for attending and warned that if this treaty is accepted by theIrish people it will mean more taxes like the household charge, theseptic tank tax and water charges. “The EU Fiscal Compact Treaty, orthe Austerity Treaty as it should be known, seeks to permanentlyinstitutionalise austerity in this state. The treaty sets out to makethe cuts and taxes that have caused such misery and stagnation legallybinding and an integral part of our constitution. It sets out to tiethe hands of future governments and future generations of Irish menand women, leaving them to live their whole lives under the darkclouds of permanent austerity. It fair to say if this treaty getsthrough, we ain’t seen nothing yet.”

Bray Town councillor Rossa Murray stated "Its important that peopleunderstand what austerity is. Austerity is the hurt and pain thatsbeen inflicted on the Irish people over the last number of years,austerity is the closure of hospitals, less teachers and increasedclass sizes and new stealth taxes such as the household charge andwater taxes. It is quite clear Austerity doesn’t work. We’ve had sixausterity budgets. The deficit has grown not reduced. Half a millioncitizens are unemployed. Working people and lower and middle incomefamilies are bearing the brunt of the government’s decisions.”

Gerry O'Neill who is the Sinn Féin representative for West Wicklowasserted that proponents of the treaty were coming from a “aThatcherite and Reaganite right-wing conservative ideologicalposition. If Ireland ratified the treaty, it would see the executivehand over powers to unelected officials and bureaucrats in the EUCommission and allowing them to run this State, and to police fiscalas well as monetary matters.”

Wicklow County councillor for Wicklow East John Snell continued "Itsimportant that people defend the limited freedoms we currently enjoyand try reclaim our economic sovereignty, citizens must firstly ensurethey are registered to vote and they can do that by checking thewebsite www.checktheregister.ie and fill out the necessary forms ifthey are not registered and secondly make such they exercise theirdemocratic right and come out on May 31st and vote No to the AusterityTreaty."

The Wicklow Sinn Féin spokesperson for the No campaign John Bradysummed up by giving details of the campaign the party intend onrunning over the next five weeks "Sinn Féin intend on running apositive campaign over the next 5 weeks. The choice for the people ofWicklow is between austerity and economic stimulus and growth. Thechoice is between us handing over powers to unelected officials andbureaucrats in the European Commission and in the European Court ofJustice and allowing them to run this state, and to police fiscal aswell as monetary matters. Or we can vote No to this and assert theright of citizens to elect or sack our governments; and for citizensto have democratic authority over those who govern us. Sinn Féin willrun a high profile campaign in Wicklow and intend on holding publicmeeting across the county to inform people why the treaty is bad forIreland and for citizens in Wicklow. We will endeavour to knock andcanvass every house in the county and distribute thousands of piecesof literature as well as an extensive postering campaign.

Brady concluded "I encourage people to inform themselves on the treatyand to take and active role in the campaign to regain our sovereignty,our campaign is open to anyone who wants to stand up for Ireland anddefend this generation and subsequent generations against austerity.If people want to get involved they can contact myself or any SinnFéin representative in Wicklow."